NY Assemblyman Kevin Cahill turns attention to unfinished business

KINGSTON, N.Y. -- State Assemblyman Kevin Cahill says he wants to return to Albany before the year is out to finish business that was left undone before legislators adjourned last month.

Cahill, D- Kingston, said at a recent press conference that he expects state lawmakers to reconvene after the summer to address "missed opportunities" from the past six months.

"I will be working to craft much-needed insurance legislation, including modernizing New York's no-fault auto insurance law to reflect advancements in medical technology and to align life, health, property and casualty coverage more with consumer interests," he said.

Ulster County leaders hope the Assembly also will take up legislation to extend the county's added 1 percent sales tax for another two years.

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Cahill blocked the legislation last month, saying he first wanted a commitment from the county that it will take over from municipalities the local cost of the Safety Net welfare program. With that assurance now apparently forthcoming, Cahill has said the tax bill probably can be passed.

If the tax extension isn't approved, the county stands to lose $22 million per year, County Executive Michael Hein has said.

Cahill, at his press conference, said accomplishments during the recent state Legislature session included approving a minimum wage increase, getting additional aid for local school districts, improving consumer protections from deceptive insurance company practices following major storms and developing legislation that will allow residents to vote on approval of non-Indian casinos in the state.

"Some of the things that we didn't accomplish included a permanent minimum wage increase that would take the Legislature out of the process by putting in a cost-of-living escalator," he said. "That was overruled by the (state) Senate."

"We were also unsuccessful in advancing some very significant changes to our draconian drug law," he said. "The drug laws in New York are notorious, have been for 40-some years, putting people behind bars who don't belong there while using up those valuable resources and keeping us from being able to have the facilities we need for the people who should be behind bars."

Cahill said approved legislation impacting the local area included authorizing the towns of Marbletown and Rochester to move their municipal offices to the former Rosendale Elementary School, granting the town of Ulster permission to roll over bond anticipation notes and allowing the city of Kingston to change a part-time judgeship position to full time.

Cahill also cited legislation -- approved by both chambers and signed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo -- designating all of Route 375 in Hurley and Woodstock as Levon Helm Memorial Boulevard, a tribute to the musician who lived in Woodstock for decades before his death in April 2012.